Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

American War by Omar El Akkad

4 reviews

wandering_seal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Oooh this was good in the most grim, unremitting way possible.

I did struggle with the pacing at the start, but overall this was such an interesting piling on of events. I particularly loved the shifting focus at the end - the conclusion was exactly what I expected and also not at all.

I listened to this on audiobook, and while I thought it was so, so well done I do wish I'd a physical copy of the book so I could flick back between some of the events and documentation as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

foxgallagher's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and War

Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Blood, Excrement, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

keegan53's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An amazing book. The world building is fantastic and there is amazing character development. So well crafted. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

pollyandthebooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War